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Obama Embraces Familiar on Vineyard Vacation

Despite rain showers, President Obama spent his second full day of vacation much like the first, with an afternoon on the golf course followed by an evening out with friends.

Demonstrating that he’s either an eternal optimist or has access to better weather forecasting than the general public, President Obama headed out in the middle of a light rain Monday morning to play golf at the Vineyard Golf Club in Edgartown.

Shortly after the presidential entourage arrived at the private club, the gray ceiling lifted, giving way to a glimpse of sunshine.

The president last played at the Vineyard Golf Club in 2011. The club features the only organic golf course in the country with a sustainable maintenance program that does not include pesticides.

Under gray skies and scattered showers, the presidential motorcade headed down-Island just before noon. A runner paused in front of the Grey Barn Farm and Dairy to let the motorcade pass. Greeters waved on the porch of Alley’s General Store. A yellow press bus and several police vehicles were stationed at the entrance to the golf club.

The president spent about five hours playing golf before heading back up-Island. At around 6 p.m., the president and first lady left their Chilmark rental home to go to a cocktail party at the West Tisbury home of campaign advisor Broderick Johnson and former NPR host Michele Norris Johnson.

The day began with business. The White House announced this morning that the president received his daily briefing from National Security Advisor Susan E. Rice, and a White House photo showed the two talking at the Chilmark rental home that is the Summer White House this year.

Meanwhile, the new owners of the Sweet Life Cafe in Oak Bluffs savored their first presidential visit one day after the Obamas had dined there with friends.

Kevin and Suzanna Crowell took over the restaurant earlier this year from former owners Pierre and Susan Guerin, who owned the restaurant when the Obamas dined there in 2009 and 2010. The Crowells also own Detente restaurant in Edgartown.

“It was great. It was an honor to have them,” said Mr. Crowell, who is executive chef. “It was nerve-racking and exciting.”

The staff learned about the president’s dining choice right before the meal, he said. “It all happens pretty quick, they move pretty quick.”

Mr. Crowell said the group ordered a wide variety of dishes, from appetizers to main dishes and desserts “all across the menu.”

He said onlookers gathered outside the restaurant. “It was quite a crowd that grew outside,” he said.

“They were gracious enough to meet us after their meal,” he continued. The president and first lady posed for a picture with the Crowells and the rest of the staff.

“We’re honored their first night out was with us,” Mr. Crowell said.

Elsewhere on the Island, businesses hoped for a presidential visit. At Bryn Walker in Edgartown, an outfit has been selected for Mrs. Obama (orange tunic, white pants and yellow and green scarf).

“We’re ready any time she wants to come,” manager Barbara Jamgochian said.

With hints of a bookstore outing — and rain in the forecast for Tuesday — Edgartown Books manager Susan Mercier has selected some titles for the whole first family. For President Obama, suggestions include Death Angel by Island author Linda Fairstein and Bunker Hill: A City, a Siege, a Revolution by Nathaniel Philbrick. The first lady might enjoy Living Off the Sea on the Island of Chappaquiddick by Melinda Fager, she said, or Ms. Mercier’s favorite, The Bald Mermaid: A Memoir by Sheila Bridges.

Suggestions for Sasha, 12, include Wonder by R. J. Palacio, a staff favorite “full of heart and hope,” Ms. Mercier said. She suggested Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein for Malia, 15, because it is “rich in historical detail and intrigue, Code Name Verity is a vivid reminder of what makes historical fiction so compelling.”

The bookstore’s coffee shop, btb, also has prepared the btbama: an iced coffee with four shots and grapefruit zest, a drink guaranteed to fuel several rounds of golf.

Interesting - it seems some of the big news outlets are now using cell phone photos. In fact, I've even heard that some newspapers are laying off their photographers and will be depending more and more on reporters using their cell phones.